for a plan to confirm that every healthcare staff is vaccinated. At present, vaccination against COVID-19 is not compulsory for hospital employees. According to Catholic Health Australia, which is the chief group that represents Catholic non-profit hospitals, its members are arranging for vaccination of the unvaccinated workers at clinical areas with a lower risk of contact with COVID-19 patients and started vaccinating them depending on the available supplies.
It does, however, recommend that all hospital workers should be vaccinated regardless of whether they work in a clinical or support role. According to CHA’s health policy director, James Kemp, every year, healthcare workers are mandated to get flu vaccinations, but there is no similar requirement for COVID. He highlighted the necessity of the vaccinations to healthcare staff. He said, “The high transmissibility of the Delta variant of COVID is putting workers and the people they care for at greater risk as well as putting extra strain on staff. We need a single, uniform rule across Australia for everyone working in a hospital environment”.
CHA’s request comes with France joining a rising number of countries that demand vaccines for their healthcare workers. The Australian government has already ordered to vaccinate all residential aged-care workers before middle of September, and has also implemented a package of initiatives including paid leave for casual workers and a $80 flat fee for workers who must travel off-site. Catholic Health Australia is the largest non-government provider of health and aged care facilities in Australia, making up about 10% of hospital-based health care. Its staff also offer nearly 25% of private hospital service, 5% of public hospital service, 12% of aged care service, and 20% of home care service and support for the aged people.
